Explain, with some examples, how climate and topography of a country affect its economic profile.
Altitude, humidity, and temperature extremes are climatic features that affect the uses and functions of products and equipment. Products that perform well in temperate zones may deteriorate rapidly or require special cooling or lubrication to function adequately in tropical zones.
For example, manufacturers have found that construction equipment used in the United States requires extensive modifications to cope with the intense heat and dust of the Sahara Desert.
Within even a single national market, climate can be sufficiently diverse to require major adjustments. Different seasons between the northern and southern hemispheres also affect global strategies. Bosch-Siemens washing machines designed for European countries require spin cycles to range from a minimum spin cycle of 500 rpm to a maximum of 1,600 rpm.
Because the sun does not shine regularly in Germany or in Scandinavia, washing machines must have a 1,600 rpm spin cycle because users do not have the luxury of hanging them out to dry.
In Italy and Spain, however, clothes can be damp, because the abundant sunshine is sufficient to justify a spin cycle speed of 500 rpm. Mountains, oceans, seas, jungles, and other geographical features can pose serious impediments to economic growth and trade.
For example, mountain ranges cover South America's west coast for 4,500 miles, with an average height of 13,000 feet and a width of 300 to 400 miles. This natural, formidable barrier has precluded the establishment of commercial routes between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
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